Purcell makes quarter-finals at Australian Amateur
Conor Purcell in action in Australia. Picture: Golf Australia
Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell continues to impress in the Australian Amateur Championship and will face Australia’s Kyle Michel in the quarter-finals at Woodlands Golf Club today.
The Dubliner beat reigning champion Keita Nakajima of Japan 2-up in the second round before defeating England’s Thomas Sloman 3&2 having ousted Australian Conor McKinney 4&2 in the opening round on Thursday.
If he defeats Michel, Purcell will face the winner of the clash between Germany’s Michael Hirmer and Australian’s Justin Warren in the semi-finals.
Germany’s Jannik de Bruyn takes on Australia's No 2 seed and world No 25 Blake Windred in the bottom half of the draw with the winner to take on New South Wales’ Nathan Barbieri or Singapore’s Donovan Lee.
Former South of Ireland champion Purcell, who is now ranked 104th in the world, opted to leave college in Charlotte the US last year to play amateur golf full time this year.
He finished 34th in the Australian Master of the Amateurs at Royal Melbourne last week and is one of Ireland’s big hopes for a Walker Cup cap this year.
